Rail-fastener.



J. A. MOMILLEN. RAIL PASTENER. APPLIOATION FILED PBB.2 5,1909.

Patented Oct. 19,1909.

UNITED STA ES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES ARTHUR, McMILLEN, or BOYERS, PENNSYLVANIA.

RAiL-FASTENER.

Application filed. February 25, 1909. Serial No.

. companying drawings. 10

This invention relates to improvements in devices for fastening track rails to metal cross ties.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and practical rail fastener which will elfectively secure the rail upon the tie and which, when the parts become worn, may be repeatedly adjusted to compensate for wear. 7

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel features of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed,and illustrated in the.

accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a sectional view through a track rail and a portion of a. metallic tie showing the improved rail fastener in position; Figs. 2 and 3 are detailperspective views of the two members of the fastener; Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of a portion of the metal cross tie; and Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view similar to Fig. 1 showing the locking wedge or key member in its reversed position.

In the drawings 1 denotes a metallic cross t-ie of any form and construction, 2 an ordinary track rail, 3 a cushioning block of wood or other material that may be used beneath the rail if desired, and 4 and 5 the two members of the improved fastener. The member 4, which will be' termed the gripping member, has at its lower end a transversely extending head forming shoulders 6, and upon its inner face a suitable distance above said shoulders, an inwardly projecting portion forming a jaw 7. Said lower end of the gripping member 4 is arranged in an opening 8 formed'in the cross tie 1, said opening 8 having a large outer portion and a reduced inner portion. The opening 8 is of such size that the lower end of the grip ping member may be passed through it when the head or shoulders 6 are disposed lengthwise of said opening so that when the gripping member is given a quarter turn after being inserted in the opening, the shoulders Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 19, 1909. 479,950.

take over the base flange of the track rail 2 and thereby clamp the latter and the cush ioning block 3 upon the top of the tie. The flat vertical outer face of the gripping member is formed adjacent to its upper end with one or more transverse notches 9 having their upper walls horizontal and their lower walls inclined downwardly and outwardly. The other member 50f the fastener is in the form of a tapered or wedgeshaped key adapted to be driven downwardly into the large end or portion of the opening 8 and to be locked therein, by the engagement of either one of two projections or ribs 10, 11 with the notches or seats 9 in said gripping member, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5 of the drawings. The rib 10 is arranged transversely upon one face of the wedge or key member 5 at a point suitably distant from its upper end, which latter is enlarged to form a shouldered head 12. The upper face of the rib or projection 10 is horizontallydisposed and its lower face is inclined downwardly and inwardly so that it will effectively engage either one of the two or more notches 9. The other rib or projection 11 is similar in shape and formed at the extreme upper edge of the opposite face of the key member 5 and, owing to its disposition at the large upper end of the key member, it is employed, as shown in Fig. 5, after the rail and gripping member have become worn to such an extent that the rib 10 is no longer effective.

In using the fastener, the rail is placed in position upon the tie, with the cushioning block beneath the rail if desired, the gripping member is then inserted in the opening 8 in the tie, given a quarter turn and moved laterally or inwardly to cause the jaw 7 to engage the base flange of the rail, the engagement of the shoulders 6 with the bottom ofthe portion of the tie containing the opening 8, effectively locking the gripping member to the tie. The key member 5 is then driven into the opening 8 until its locking rib 10 springs into the uppermost notch 9 in the gripping member, whereupon said parts will be effectively locked. When the parts Wear to such an extent that the connection does not rigidly hold them together,

they may be tightened by simply driving the key member downwardly until its rib l0 springs into the next lower notch 9. After the rib 10 has been engaged with the lowest notch 9 and it is found that the fastening must be further tightened, the wed e mem: ber 5 is removed and reversed, as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, so that the other rib 11 may be used in the notches 9 successively, as will be readily understood. After the wedge 5 upon the fastening on one side of the track rail has been reversed, the wedge of the fastening on the other side of such rail may be reversed to secure further adjustment of the track rail fastening. By providing a head upon the upper end of the Wedge, it will be seen that the latter may be effectively engaged by a claw lever or the like when it is desired to remove the wedge.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the invention provides a simple and practical device of this character which may be produced at a small cost, will effectively unite a rail to a metal cross tie and which will permit of a large range of adjustment to compensate for wear.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is:

1. In a rail fastener, the combination with a tie having an opening provided with a reduced portion, and a rail, of a grippingmember arranged in the opening in the tie j and having a jaw to engage the rail and a transverse head upon its lower end, said head having shoulders to project beyond the side walls of the reduced portion of the opening in the tie to retain the gripping member in the latter, said gripping member being also formed upon its outer face with a series of notches and a wedge-shaped key member driven into the opening in the tie and provided with a rib or projection to engage the notches in the key men'iber for the purpose set forth. V

2 In a rail fastener, the combination with a tie having an opening arovide'd with a reduced portion, and a ral, of a gripping member arranged in the opening in the tie and having a jaw to engage the rail and a transversehead upon its lower end, said head having shoulders to project beyond the side walls of the reduced portion of the opening in the tie to retain the gripping member in the latter, said gripping member being also formed upon its outer face with a series of notches and a reversible wedgeshaped key member arranged in the opening in the tie and having upon one face at a point below its upper edge a transverse rib to engage the notches in the gripping member, the opposite face of said key member being formed at its large or upper end with a transverse rib to engage said notches in the grippindg member when the key member is reverse 3. In a rail fastener, the combination with a tie and a rail, of a gripping member arranged in the tie and adapted to engage the rail, said gripping member being formed with a series of notches, and a reversible wedge-shaped key member driven into the tie and having upon its opposite sides locking ribs to engage said notches in the gri aping member, said ribs being disposed at di erent distances from the small end of the wedgeshaped key member, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JAMES ARTHUR MCMILLEN.

Witnesses:

W. E. I'IUTOHESON, WILLIAM G. WILSON. 

